Vehicle door closing device



May 4, 1954 F. A. ANDERSON 2,677,573

VEHICLE DOOR CLOSING DEVICE Filed May 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGI.

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1 E INVENTOR L FRANKA ANDERSON H n ATTO NEY May 4, 1954 Filed May 4, 1953 F. A. ANDERSON 2,677,573

VEHICLE DOOR CLOSING DEVICE 2 Sheets$heet 2 3s 4 2O 25 21 23 26 28 w I M H04. 7 30\\' 39 38 F m; 1 I m w w o FIGEJ. 2

INVENTOR FRANK'A. ANDERSON BY Ma ATTORNEY Patented May 4, 1954 UNI 2,677,573

VEHICLEBOGR CLOSINGLDEVIGE FrankA. Anderson, Chicago; Ill.

rhpplicationsMaw l; 1953;.SeriaLN 05352;7 10.

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This invention relates to an improvedvehicle door closing device and'is an-improvementnver the construction shown in my Patent 2,610,084 patented September 9, 1952-. More particularly it relatesto a door closing handle device particularly adapted. for closing the: door of. therehicle disposed on the side-opposite to th operators station.

As indicated in the above mentioned patent, modern design automobiles are such that it is extremely difficultfor the operatorto enter the car from the right hand. side, andafter he has seated himself, to close the door. The width oi the front seat-and the open position of the "door requires the operator to-slide over to the open door and'vg'enerally-exert unusualefiort'in-order to close the same.v In the-case of salesmen, doctors, etc, who must do this many times daily it becomes a real effort and thegreat temptation is to enter fromthe left hand side ofthe car, a practice which is of course extremely dangerous. It is applicants prime objecttlierefore to provide animprovedvehicle door closing device which can be extended :within easy, reach of an operator sitting .intthe operators station to effect closing :of the openadoor located: on the right hand side ofsan automobile.

It is a more specifi'c robjectltoi provide, animproved door closingdevicefor avehicleincliid ing a pair of pivoted arms-connected tothe right hand vehicle door, the arms normallybeihgjiha collapsed position,- parallel and against the door and. being swingable .to a. laterally extendedlpos'ition whereby the door .may .be closeditrom the operatorsiposition.

A stillfurther .obj.ectlis.-to providean improved door closing device M comprising,..a pair u of .hinged channel shapedarms adaptedi to be resiliently held in a nestedlor telescopingposition. against the door in parallel relation duringothenon-use position, the arms beingswingable to an extended position in lateral relation with" respect. to the vehicle door whereby the-door-r-may be readily swung to a closedfposition by. anoperatorsea'ted in the operators position.

Av more specificob'ject off the invention isoan improved vehicle door. c'losin'gidevic comprisinga bracket adapted to be connectedflto .itlie inner side of a door, the device including .a pair or hinged channel arms .withspring. tension means urging said James into normal nested position parallel with the door, the vbracketiincludiI-ig. releasable *lockingmeans Y for locking; the armsidn the nested out-ofethe-wawposition:securely held against the sidesoftthetrdoora These and furtherobjects will becomemore readily apparent from a reading .of' the specificaition' whene'xan'iinedin connection with thea'ccomp'anying sheets'of' drawings.

In' thefdrawings':

Figure -'1 is a' p'lan view" of an automobile-with portions of thetop broken away to show a vehicle door closing-devicedn" a normal ormon-usefposi tiona'gainst the "closed righthand door;

Figure 2-is= a-pl'an' View similar to Figure 1', showing the right iiand door imam open position with one of the arms -of a door closing device swung-intoan extended: positionwith :a hand grip disposed withinmthe car;,

Figures-ism plan view similartolifiignre z'show ins-several. IIOSllliGIlSLiOf adoorzzclos'ingidevice;

Figure il'iswa plan! view of ianrimproved door closing device;

Figure 5fisavside-elevationa1 =view ofa door closing device;

' Eigure 6:. :is zanaenlarg ed 'gplanrviewwoi portions of a door closing device with certain parts broken aw ay; to" illustrate :the' invention,

. Figures '7 is: an: enlarged sectionalview :along the line -'l-'| takenioniFigure e-g,

Figure-3.18: is: :aasectional view taken :along the lined-.82 ofiFigure: 6

, Figure is a detail; plan views-of "a =:pcrtion of a door closings'deviee showing: .an operating-mosttion of the'sameghand Eigureildisaiplan View of aAportionof-a door closing;deviceishowingi an operating; -position' with certain partsbroken away;

Referringnow toFigureS 1i through-3 ancone ventional vehicle such as an automobile-:is-idesia natedby the referencecharacter Ill: The vehicle it lcomprisesia hwd I l; o dashboard l2 and front seat compa-rtment it. An" operatorsstation is designatedat"lfisimproximity to a-steering wheel 16. .Thesright hand front door is -desig natedrat H, the v'same 'beinglhin-gedlysconneotedrin conventional fashion to a front post 18a The door 1'1 has; aninner surface or side' i 9.

tRoierringrnows-to Figures l througlr-fig alvehiole door closingidevice is: designated generally am i}. The device 2B: coirmrises :a:bracket 24 which; as shown particularly-inFigured; may beattached to th'ef-innflfi sidefxl 920i: lthe-ffront rightvhand door.

I?! byzmeans oioonventional fastenersfld. The brackets .21 comprises inwardly; projecting; lips bracket 2| further includes a first pin 29 and a second pin 30 projecting laterally thereof. The pins 29 and 30 are respectively provided with annular recesses 31 and 32. The pin 29 is adapted to project through an opening 33 provided in the arm 25. A spring section 34 of the spring 27 resiliently engages the recess 3| of the pin 29 for resiliently, though releasably, locking the arm 25 in a normal position parallel to the door H. The spring section 28, then urges the arm 25 into the normal position, and the section 34 releasably locks the arm 25 in the normal position as indicated in Figure 8.

A second arm is designated at 31. The second arm 37 is of channel shape and has one end hingedly connected, by means of a hinge pin 38, to the arm 25. The arm 31 includes a hand grip 39. A spring 40 encircles the pin 38, the spring 413 having portions 4| and 42 urging the arms 25 and 3'! laterally apart from a nested or collapsed position. A latch device is designated at 4-3, this device including spring plates 4 and respectively connected to the arms 3? and as indicated best in Figures 9 and 10. Upon opening of the arms 3! and 25, the plates 44 and i5 engage each other and are moved to an overlapping position whereupon they serve to releasably lock the arms in a straightened or extended position as indicated in Figure 10.

In the normal non-use position the arms 25 and 31 are collapsed or are in a nested position lying in parallel relation against the inner side is of the door IT, as indicated in Figure 1. The

arm 25 is held securely in this position by the pin 29 which is engaged by the spring section 34. Thus the arm 25 is held rigidly against possible rattle and in an out of the way position. The arm 37 further includes a spring clip il which engages the pin in releasable locking position also to assure rigid support of the arms 25 and 31.

In the normal position thus the arms 25 and 3'! are securely held against the door IT in parallel and nested position. When the door I? is in the open position indicated in Figure 2 and the operator enters the car or automobile, he grasps the handle or hand grip 39 and moves the arm 37 from the nested position shown in Figures 4 and 5, to the position shown in Figure 2. He then seats himself in the operators station [5 and he can easily grasp the handle 33 and pull the same to the extended straightened position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, whereupon he closes the door.

He now releases the handle 39 and the arm 25 is swung back to the normal position by action of the spring 27. The operator simultaneously moves the arms 25 and El in jackknife relation from the releasably locked position shown in Figure 10 to the normal nested position shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5.

It can now be seen that by nesting the channel arms in the manner shown that the device 23 is securely held in a non-rattling normal position in an out of the way condition. Both arms are securely held by the releasable locking means or pins 29 and 3B and the latch device 43 securely holds the arms in the desired extended or straightened position. By the novel details indicated the operator has full and complete control of the device.

It can now be seen that the objects of the invention have been fully achieved and that an improved vehicle door closing device has been provided. It must be understood that changes and modifications may be made without depart ing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm of channel shape having one end connected to said bracket for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a second arm of channel shape connected to the other end of said first arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said second arm having a hand grip connected thereto, means for normally retaining said first and second arms in nested relation and normally in substantially longitudinally extending parallel relation with respect to said door, said means including first and second laterally spaced pins connected to said bracket and projecting inwardly from said door, said first arm having an opening through which said first pin projects during the normal position of said first arm, a first spring connected to said first arm and engaging said bracket for urging said arm to said normal position, said first spring including a portion disposed inside the channel of said first arm and engaging the first pin to resiliently lock said first arm in the normal position, a second spring connected to the adjacent hinged ends of said first and second arms for normally urging said second arm to swing laterally with respect to said first arm, a catch element on said second arm telescopingly engageable with said second pin for retaining said second arm in the nested position with respect to said first arm, said arms being swingable by an operator from the normal position to a straightened extended position wherein both arms extend in a lateral direction with respect to the vehicle, and first and second latch elements respectively on said first and second arms adjacent said second spring for releasably looking said first and second arms in the extended position.

2. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm of channel shape having one end connected to said bracket for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a second arm of channel shape connected to the other end of said first arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said second arm having a hand grip connected thereto, means for normally retaining said first and second arms in nested relation and normally in substantially longitudinally extending parallel relation with respect to said door, said means including first and second laterally spaced pins connected to said bracket and projecting inwardly from said door, said first arm having an opening through which said first pin projects during the normal position of said first arm, a first spring connected to said first arm and engaging said bracket for urging said arm to said normal position, said first spring including a portion disposed inside the channel of said first arm and engaging the first pin to resiliently lock said first arm in the normal position, a second spring connected to the adjacent hinged ends of said first and second arms for normally urging said second arm to swing laterally with respect to said first arm, and a catch element on said second arm engageable with said second pin for retaining said second arm in the nested position with respect to said first arm, said arms being swingable by an operator from the normal position to a straightened extended position wherein both arms extend in a lateral direction with respect to the vehicle.

" 3; Avhandleflevice zforsvhiclerzdoors compris ing. :aibracket adaptedito :be attached Ltozthe inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm of channel shape zhavlngconeaend connected tozsaid bracket f or swingingmovement? about .a vertical axis, a second: arm. of chamellshape:connected; to the other: end or said.-.firstarm for swinging; movement ab outarvertical axis; said second-arm having a; hand grip connected: thereto, means for more mally retaining .saids-first; and secondiarmsrin nested relation; and; normally in substantially longitudinally extending parallels relation. with respect to said door; said means including ;.first and second ,laterallyispaced: pins: connected to said: bracket and projecting inwardlyifrom said door, said, firstearmii havingqzan 1 opening through which: saidyfitsti pin; projects-1: during. the normal position ofsaidafirst arm, alfirst springtconnected to said first. arm; and engaging said bracket. for urging said arm; to; said, normal position, said first-spring includingaportiondisposeddnsldethe channel of said i first .arm and;engagingthefirst pin to resiliently lock said; first arm in the :normal position, ,a second spring-connected to the adj acent hinged ends of said first andsecond/armsior normally urging said second arm to swing laterally. with respect torsaid first: arm and'a. catch element on said second arm engageable with said second pin for retaining said second arm in the nested position with respect" to said first arm,- said arms being sw-ingable byan operator-from the normal position to astraightened extended positionwhereinboth armsex-tend in a lateral direction with-respect to the vehicle, and means on said first and second arms for releasably locking said first and second arms in the extended position.

4. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm having one end connected to said bracket for swinging'movement about a vertical axis, a second arm connected to the other end of said first arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis, said second arm having a hand grip connected thereto, means for normally retaining said first and second arms normally in substantially longitudinally extending parallel relation with respect to each other and with respect to said door, said means including first and second laterally spaced pins connected to said bracket and projecting inwardly from said door, said first. arm having an opening through which said first pin projects during the normal position of said first arm, a first spring connected to said first arm and engaging said bracket for urging said arm to said normal position, said first spring including a portion engaging the first pin to resiliently lock said first arm in the normal position, a second spring connected to the adjacent hinged ends of said first and second arms for normally urging said second arm to swing laterally with respect to said first arm, and a catch element on said second arm engageable with said second pin for retaining said second arm in the parallel position with respect to said first arm, said arms being swingable by an operator from the normal position to a straightened extended position wherein both arms extend in a lateral direction with respect to the vehicle.

5. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm having one end connected to said bracket for swinging movement about a vertical axis, a second arm connected to thef'otherw endiof saiaafirstl-arm'rfor "swinging movementi-aboutia vertical axis,saidisecond arm having: a hand .grip econnected thereto means for normally retaininglvsaid' first". and secondl arms normally-.zi-n substantially; longitudinally extend;- ing-s parallel irel'ati'onrwithtrespecti' to eacliu other and with-.rcspectdoosaid doorrsaidimeans includ-- ing firstian'dizsecond laterallya spaceds'pins; con-:- nected to saidrbracketandprojecting inwardly from saidudoor; rsaiohfirstiarmmavingz an .opcn;lng through which said first pin projects during {the normalipositioni-of "said firstaarm, a springconnectedztoisaid first arm and :engaging saidrbracket for zurging= said armgtossaid normal position; said springgincluding a-portionzengagingthe ifirstpin to.:.r.esilientlyrlockxsaid firstarm in thennormal position; and;a catchwelementzon said second arm engageable; with sa'idsrsecond pin for retaining said secondgarm in-the'gparallel position withree spectzto lsaidwfirst arm, said armsvbeing swingable by-arr: operator from the: normal position. to. a straightenedjextendedposition wherein both arms extendin a lateral ,direction with respectatoethe vehicle.

6. A handle device :for vehicle doors comprise ing ;a-'bracket::adaptedltobe attached to the inner sideyoi; a vehicleadoorya first arm or? channel shape, connected; to said bracket. for: lateral swinging movement; with i respect :to rsaid; door, a secondzarm connectedxto said firstarm; said second; armbeing, of; channel: shape and being adapted. to be laterally moved from a, nested position with saidfirst arm: to an, extended position; hand gripping; means on: said second arm,- spring means .betweensaidrbracket and said first arm for normally maintaining the nested arms in substantially parallel position with respect to said vehicle door, said first and second arms being movable from the normal position to the extended position wherein both arms are longitudinally in substantial alignment and extend laterally into a vehicle.

7. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm of channel shape connected to said bracket for lateral swinging movement with respect to said door, a second arm connected to said first arm, said second arm being of channel shape and being adapted to be laterally moved from a nested position with said first arm to an extended position, hand gripping means on said second arm, spring means between said bracket and said first arm for normally maintaining the nested arms in substantially parallel position with respect to said vehicle door, said first and second arms being movable from the normal position to the extended portion wherein both arms are longitudinally in substantial alignment and extend laterally into a vehicle, and means on said bracket and said first arm for releasably locking said first arm in said normal position.

8. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm of channel shape connected to said bracket for lateral swinging movement with respect to said door, a second arm connected to said first arm, said second arm being of channel shape and being adapted to be laterally moved from a nested position with said first arm to an extended position, hand gripping means on said second arm, spring means between said bracket and said first arm for normally maintaining the nested arms in substantially parallel position with respect to said vehicle door,

'said first and second arms being movable from the normal position to the extended portion wherein both arms are longitudinally in substan-- tial alignment and extend laterally into a vehicle, and first and second releasable locking means on said bracket, said first means being engageable with said first arm for releasably locking said first arm in the normal position, said second releasable locking means being adapted to releasably lock said second arm in said normal position.

9. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the inner side of a vehicle door, a first arm of channel shape connected to said bracket for lateral swinging movement with respect to said door, a second arm connected to said first arm, said second arm being of channel shape and being adapted to be laterally moved from a nested position with said first arm to an extended position, hand gripping means on said second arm, spring means between said bracket and said first arm for normally maintaining the nested arms in substantially parallel position with respect to said vehicle door, said first and second arms being movable from the normal position to the extended portion wherein both arms are longitudinally in substantial alignment and extend laterally into a vehicle, first and second releasable locking means on said bracket, said first means being engageable with said first arm for releasably lockin said first arm in the normal position, said second releasable locking means being adapted to releasably lock said second arm in said normal position, and releasable latch elements connected to said first and second arms and engageable with each other for lockin said arms in the extended position.

10. A handle device for vehicle doors comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the in ner side of a vehicle door, a first arm connected to said bracket for lateral swinging movement with respect to said door, a second arm hingedly connected to said first arm, said second arm normally being in a folded position in adjacent and substantially parallel relation to said first arm, said second arm bein adapted to be laterally moved from the normal position with respect to said first arm to a laterally extended position, hand-gripping means on said second arm, spring means between said bracket and said first arm for normally maintaining the arms in the normal substantially parallel position with respect to the vehicle door, said first and second arms being movable from the normal position to the extended position against the action of said spring wherein both arms are longitudinally in substantial alignment and extend laterally into a vehicle, and means releasably locking said arms in the normal position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,957,710 Hennicke May 8, 1934 2,274,892 Fox Mar. 3, 1942 2,610,084 Anderson Sept. 9, 1952 2,620,682 Perrot Dec. 9, 1952 

